HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 1520

As Amended by the Senate

BYRepresentatives Walk, Schmidt, S. Wilson, Sayan, R. Fisher, Betrozoff, R. King, Vekich, Haugen, H. Sommers, R. Meyers and Pruitt; by request of Marine Employees' Commission

Changing provisions relating to salary surveys for ferry system employees.

House Committe on State Government

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (6)

      Signed by Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; McLean, Ranking Republican Member; Hankins, Morris, O'Brien and Silver.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Anderson, Vice Chair.

House Staff:Barbara McLain (786-7135)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 15, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Marine Employees Commission was established in 1983 and is charged with reviewing complaints, grievances, and disputes between ferry system labor and management.  The commission also conducts a salary survey for ferry employees prior to collective bargaining.

The salary survey must compare wages, hours, employee benefits, and conditions of employment of state ferry employees with those of other state employees and workers in the state's private sector who are doing directly comparable work. Consideration is given to local factors and the classifications involved.

SUMMARY:

The salary survey conducted by the Marine Employees Commission must compare ferry system employees with public and private sector employees in West and East Coast states (including Alaska) and in British Columbia. Positions surveyed are to remain directly comparable, but need not be identical to ferry system positions.  Public policy with regard to the survey is to promote just and fair compensation, rather than equality in compensation, between state ferry employees and others surveyed.

The purpose of the survey is expressed in statute:  to disclose generally prevailing levels of compensation, benefits, and conditions of employment and to guide but not define or limit collective bargaining.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENTS:  Employees in East Coast states are no longer included in the Marine Employees Commission salary survey.  The survey covers employees in West Coast states, including Alaska, and in British Columbia.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative George Walk, prime sponsor; David Haworth, Marine Employees Commission; Ben Dysart, Washington State Ferry Riders Coalition; and Steve Ross, Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, and International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots.

House Committee - Testified Against:      T.K. Bentler and David Freiboth, International Boatmen's Union.

House Committee - Testimony For:    For some time there has been an awareness that the current survey suffers from major deficiencies created by its limited scope.  Insufficient job classes can be brought into the survey to make a valid comparison.  This bill represents a fair but fragile compromise that would improve the survey process.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      The bill extends the survey to workers outside the state with no safeguards to account for different standards of living.  There is nothing wrong with the current language requiring surveys of directly comparable work.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 95; Nays 1; Absent 1; Excused 1

Voting Nay: Representative Vekich.

Absent:     Representative R. King.

Excused:    Representative Wineberry.